Magazine

The Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies has ranked
Botswana as the most attractive African jurisdiction in the world for mining
and investment.

The Southern African nation was ranked 32nd in the world on
the Investment Attractiveness Index ahead of South Africa, which was the next
highest ranked African jurisdiction in 43rd place.

“Botswana is again the highest ranked jurisdiction in Africa on policy,
ranking 12th (of 83) in 2018,” said the report, which is now in its 21st
year.

The survey rated 83 jurisdictions around the world based on their
geologic attractiveness for minerals and metals, and the extent to which
government policies encourage or deter exploration and investment.

“The survey is an attempt to assess how mineral endowments and public
policy factors such as taxation and regulatory uncertainty affect exploration
investment,” the report added.

While Botswana held onto its position as the highest-ranking African
jurisdiction, South Africa improved on its 2017 ranking of 48th out
of 91 global mining jurisdictions, after the government published a revised
Mining Charter last year.

Nevada was ranked as the most attractive mining jurisdiction in the world by the survey, with Venezuela propping up the bottom of the list. The Democratic Republic of Congo was the lowest ranked African jurisdiction.